These are the top two runners-up for the Audiodrama Challenge

2nd Place

CONSUMPTION BY JONATHAN FORTIN

AMY: …No, sir, this isn’t the phone number you want for that. You want—I’m sorry, sir, I know it’s very frustrating. I want to help you, but the phone number you want is—OK, fine, hang up.

DORI: Another irate customer?

AMY: Yeah, nothing but angry people all day. Is it always like this?

DORI: Not always. Don’t worry, Amy. You’ll get used to it. You’ll be part of the team sooner than you think!

SFX: PHONE RINGS.

AMY: Hello?

SFX: STATIC HUMMING FROM THE PHONE, FOLLOWED BY A STRANGE GROWLING NOISE.

AMY: Anyone there?

VOICE ON PHONE: We can smell you.

AMY: What?

SFX: CLICK. LINE GOES DEAD.

DORI: Are you all right?

AMY: (NERVOUS) Fine…I’m fine.

SFX: FOOTSTEPS IN AN EMPTY STREET. AMY IS WALKING HOME NOW. IT’S A QUIET NIGHT AND EVERY NOISE SEEMS ESPECIALLY LOUD.

AMY: (MUTTERING TO HERSELF) No need to get worked up, Amy. It was just a weird phone call. Aaaand now of course I’m in a deserted street, but no need to get worked up about that either. You always walk home this way. You’ve never been mugged before and you probably won’t be now.

SFX: PHONE RUMBLES.

AMY: …Yeah, not going to answer that.

SFX: PHONE RUMBLES.

AMY: Really hope this isn’t an important call from work though…

SFX: PHONE RUMBLES.

AMY: Augh, fine! Hello?

SFX: STATIC HUM. THEN A CREEPY CLICKING, THROBBING, WRIGGLING NOISE APPEARS, FOLLOWED BY THE SAME DISTORTED GROWL AS BEFORE.

VOICE ON PHONE: We can hear you.

AMY: (NERVOUS) Who is this?

SFX: LINE GOES DEAD. THEN RUNNING FOOTSTEPS

AMY: (PANTS AS SHE RUNS)

SFX: DOOR SLAMS.

AMY: (BREATHES HEAVILY IN RELIEF, HAVING JUST GOTTEN HOME)

BLAKE: Honey, are you all right?

AMY: I don’t want to talk about it. Is there any beer in the fridge?

BLAKE: Put some in an hour ago. Want me to order a pizza?

AMY: Do whatever you want, Blake.

BLAKE: Well…if you don’t want pizza, I could make something else.

AMY: (OVERWHELMED) Blake, I just don’t want to have to think about it, okay? (PAUSE) Sorry. Didn’t mean to snap at you. Today’s just been awful.

BLAKE: It’s okay. I know you’re having a hard time adjusting.

AMY: It’s not just that—though that doesn’t help. God, maybe it is that. Maybe I’m just going crazy.

BLAKE: Oh, honey, don’t say that. You’re not crazy.

AMY: I’ve only been at this office for two weeks and I already feel like I’m losing my mind. Waking up at six in the morning so I can be there at seven…having no energy when I get home…and the people there! It’s like they have no life outside that office. All they talk about is work. I’m the first one out the door, and I’m always the last one there, even though I get there early!

BLAKE: Nobody’s ever late?

AMY: Nobody! Maybe they fire them if they’re late even once. No pressure or anything.

BLAKE: It can’t hurt to try. And then I’ll order a pizza. We’ll even put pineapple on it, you heathen.

SFX: PHONE RUMBLES.

AMY: You know what? We need to end this.

BLAKE: Amy, wait—

SFX: CLICK. STATIC HUMMING.

AMY: Leave me alone, you creep. I’m calling the police.

VOICE ON PHONE: We can see you.

AMY: Can you see my middle finger?

SFX: LINE GOES DEAD.

AMY: Ugh…I sounded way more tough than I actually feel.

BLAKE: Well, I know I’d be scared if I was a stalker.

A PAUSE AS WE MOVE TO LATER, TO THE BEDROOM.

BLAKE: Okay, I’ve locked all the doors and closed all the blinds. Officer Dormer is standing outside. She’ll be keeping watch in case anyone comes, but in all likelihood her presence will be a deterrent in and of itself.

AMY: Blake…thank you. I still don’t know how I’m going to sleep tonight, but thank you.

BLAKE: Is that a letter opener in your hand?

AMY: Just in case.

BLAKE: Amy, repeat after me: it’s going to be OK.

AMY: It’s going to be OK.

BLAKE: I’m going to go brush my teeth. I’ll just be in the bathroom. Try to get some sleep.

AMY: Just…need to try to fall asleep. It’s going to be OK. It’s going to be OK…

SFX: A LOUD, SUDDEN STATIC ERUPTION IN THE ROOM.

VOICE: WE CAN TOUCH YOU.

AMY: (SCREAMS) Let go of me!

SFX: BREATH, SLITHERING, WRIGGLING WORMS, THROBBING, HISSING.

AMY: BLAKE! BLAKE, HELP!

SFX: DOOR SLAMS OPEN.

BLAKE: What the hell is that?!

AMY: I don’t know! I’m trying to slash it but it’s like cutting through air!

BLAKE: Amy, get away! It’s growing teeth!

VOICE: WE CAN TASTE YOU!

SFX: A WET CRUNCH.

AMY: (SCREAMS IN PAIN) MY ARM!

VOICE: (GIGGLES, CHEWS) Taste you…

AMY: For God’s sake, get it off me!

VOICE: (LICKING, SMACKING LIPS) Let us eat you…

BLAKE: It looks like it’s made of shadows…Amy, I have an idea!

VOICE: Join us…become one with us…each piece we eat will become more of us…

BLAKE: I’ve got my lighter. I’m gonna set it on fire!

AMY: Hurry!

SFX: FIRE BURNING.

VOICE: (SHRIEKS IN PAIN)

BLAKE: It’s burning!

AMY: Blake, watch out! It’s moving to you!

SFX: ANOTHER WET CRUNCH.

BLAKE: (LETS OUT A HOWL OF PAIN)

SFX: A LOUDER, MORE SUBSTANTIAL CRUNCH CUTS BLAKE’S SCREAM SHORT. HIS HEAD HAS BEEN CRUSHED IN.

AMY: (SCREAMING, HEARTBROKEN) BLAKE! NO!

OFFICER DORMER: Freeze!

SFX: GUNSHOTS.

VOICE: (LETS OUT ONE LOUD FINAL SHRIEK THAT FADES INTO SILENCE)

SFX: FOR A MOMENT, SILENCE. THEN: BEEP. BEEP. BEEP. IT’S A HEART MONITOR. THE SOUND CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THIS FINAL SCENE.

AMY: (WAKING UP) Ugh…

OFFICER DORMER: How do you feel, Miss Sanchez?

AMY: Bad. How long have I been out?

DORMER: A few nights. After you passed out, I got you to the hospital. That…thing took your arm.

AMY: And Blake? Is he…?

DORMER: I’m sorry.

AMY: (SOBS QUIETLY)

DORMER: (NERVOUS) Miss Sanchez…there’s something else.

AMY: What is it? What do you have there?

DORMER: Well…I tried calling your work to tell them what happened. The line was disconnected, so I went over there to tell them in person. It was the strangest thing. The building…had burned down.

AMY: What?

DORMER: That’s not all. I dug through the rubble…and I found this.

SFX: UNWRAPPING OF CLOTH. AMY GASPS.

AMY: …Is that…?

BLAKE: Just bones. But it’s holding a letter opener.

AMY: Officer…that doesn’t make any sense. Why would my arm be in the ashes of that building?

3rd Place

TURN UP AND DIE BY HARRY HUSBANDS

SOUND:THE SOUND OF A BUSY BAR GOES ON IN THE BACKGROUND FOR THE ENTIRETY

NARRATOR:A woman sits alone in a brightly-lit bar. Her dress is torn and frames a gaping wound that bleeds on her left shoulder. She is sipping a beer. A man sits down opposite. The back of his head is open and red like a flower in bloom.

MALE: Can I, like, sit here?

FEMALE: (UNINTERESTED)Go for it…

MALE: Nice wound. What were you on today?

FEMALE: Psycho remake.

MALE: Really?

FEMALE: Yeah.

MALE: Nice. I love the original. My mom was gonna to be in it.

FEMALE: (INTERESTED)Yeah?

MALE: Yeah. She didn’t make the audition though… couldn’t bleed enough on the day.

FEMALE: I hear that. The thin-blooded always get the best roles. It’s total bullshit.

MALE: Yeah…

FEMALE: Anyway, what about you?

MALE: Oh, I don’t know. Like, some zombie thing.

FEMALE: I’m guessing machete?

MALE: Baseball bat, actually. What’s your name?

FEMALE: Female Victim Number 12.

MALE: I’m Male Victim Number 5.

FEMALE: Nice to meet you, Number 5.

MALE: And it’s been good to meet your name. I mean to meet you. It’s been… er… good.

FEMALE: (UNCOMFORTABLY) Thanks…

SILENCE:FOR A MOMENT

MALE: You still look good for it though.

FEMALE: Huh?

MALE: I said you still look good for it.

FEMALE: I don’t…

MALE: The wound.

FEMALE: Oh…

MALE: You still look…

FEMALE: Oh, right, thanks.

SILENCE: FOR A MOMENT

MALE: Anyway, you want a drink?

FEMALE: Sure. Thanks.

SOUND: FOOTSTEPS LEAVING THE TABLE

SOUND:A PHONE BEING DIALLED

FEMALE: Hey… No, I’m at the Victim Lounge. There’s a guy here… Well I don’t know if he’s new or not, but it doesn’t seem like he knows. Well, I can’t… Because, he’s buying me a drink! I know. He’s coming back, I’ll see you later.

SOUND:THE BEEP OF THE END OF A CALL

SOUND: FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING THE TABLE

MALE: Here you go.

FEMALE: Thank you so much. Listen, Number 5, I need to tell you—

MALE: No, no. I’m sorry. Really. I hope you don’t think I’ve bad intentions. You must be sick of it. Just a friendly drink and that’s it. Is that alright?

FEMALE: Y-yeah… that’s cool. A friendly drink. Cheers.

SOUND:GLASSES CLINKING TOGETHER

MUSIC:CLASSICAL GUITAR STARTS UP IN THE BACKGROUND AND CONTINUES FOR THE DURATION

FEMALE: So you new to the Victim Lounge?

MALE: Yeah. I’ve just never really drank after work before. I gostraight home usually.

FEMALE: What started you?

MALE: Huh?

FEMALE: What started you drinking?

MALE: I’d rather not talk about it…

FEMALE: That’s alr—

MALE: My mom… (SIGH) She died. Decapitated while being decapitated.

FEMALE: Oh, that’s terrible.

MALE: Yeah. They brought in the Victim Act because of it.

FEMALE: That was your mom?

MALE: It was… no big deal though.

FEMALE: Not a big deal?She’s a hero! So many victims will die without dying because of her. I’m sorry your loss.

MALE: Thanks. She was one of the good ones. Damn, excuse me. Bleeding all over the place.

FEMALE: It’s ok. We all bleed together here.

MALE: Thanks. I like bleeding with you.

FEMALE: Hey… I need to tell you, just so you don’t—

SOUND:SPLOOSH SOUND LIKE A STONE FALLING IN WATER

FEMALE: Oh, God damn it! There goes my eye again. This is alwayshappening. How embarrassing. I’ll be right back.

SOUND:FOOTSTEPS LEAVING

SILENCE:FOR AROUND 3 SECONDS

SOUND:FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING

FEMALE: Sorry about that. Is it in properly?

MALE: It looks beautiful, I mean fine. It looks fine. And don’tworry about it. Like you said, we all bleed together, right?

FEMALE: Right!

SOUND: GLASSES CLINKING

MALE 2: Mind if I take a seat?

NARRATOR: A second man joins the table and sits beside the first. His ribs are open, showcasing red, glistening innards.

MALE: I’m sorry about that. Number 10, he’s a bit… you know… Too many zombie films. You know… they…

FEMALE: Ate his brains?

MALE: Yeah, exactly. We’re on, like, the same wave length, you know?

FEMALE: I’m sorry, but I have to go… My girlfriend is coming and I’m just going to—

MALE: But we have so much to talk abou— Wait… girl?—

SOUND: FOOTSTEPS SWIFTLY APPROACH

MALE 2: Has he told you about his mom yet?

MALE: Number 10, just fuck off, will you?

FEMALE: What about her?

MALE: Don’t listen—

MALE 2: She’s still alive. He tells all the girls that one about the Victim Act.

MALE: Seriously, dude.

MALE 2: Works usually, but you seem a bit smarter. He’s not all there ya see? Too many zombie films.

FEMALE: I’m going.

MALE: No! Don’t!

MALE 2: He don’t even like stab wounds. Calls them gross—

SOUND:PUNCH FOLLOWED BY MORE PUNCHING AND FIGHTING SOUNDS(GRUNTING ETC) CONTINUE ON. THE BACKGROUND BAR NOISE AND ROCK MUSIC STOP

FEMALE: (OVER THE TOP OF FIGHTING SOUNDS)Fuck this.

SOUND:THE FIGHTING STOPS

MALE & MALE 2: (IN UNISON)Wait!

FEMALE: You’re a pair of losers. I wouldn’t sleep with either of you, even if I liked men.

SOUND:FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

FEMALE 2: Hey sweetheart, sorry I’m late…Who the hell are these two?

NARRATOR:A second woman stands beside the first. Her entire left side is torn and mangled like shredded chilli beef.

FEMALE: Hey gorgeous.They’re fighting over who gets to take me out, or sleep with me. God knows…

MALE 2: And just who is this fine—

FEMALE: It’s my girlfriend, dipshit.

MALE 2: Your girl—?

MALE: But she’s—

FEMALE: A girl? Yeah… Listen, rather than getting your dicks all tangled trying to figure out who’s going to bone me, why couldn’t you have just tried normal conversation? Not every girl wants your baby carrot.

SOUND:FEMALE 2 LAUGHING IN THE BACKGROUND

FEMALE: You wanted a friendly drink, right Number 5?

MALE: Well, yeah, but—

FEMALE: But what? You couldn’t get your brain out your balls long enough to carry on with that idea? Look at both of you, seriously. Step back and look at yourselves. You’re fighting in the goddamn Victim Lounge. This is where we come to get away from the horror. This is where we come to support one another. We’re all in this together and look at you—fighting like a pair of horny apes. Jesus Christ…